Properly placed chilled or heated stones along the body’s pressure points can provide much needed muscle relaxation in massage clients.
When using this technique, the heating and cooling effects of the stones add to regular massage techniques, helping the body’s muscles to relax faster and easier.
The therapeutic effects of stone massage can be learned through home-study courses in the privacy of your home or office. These new tools can then be easily implemented into your massage practice.
During this technique, massage therapists can use volcanic rock, which is often basalt because it conducts heat well. However, other types of stones, such as marble, can be used and the size of the stones can vary.
Massage therapists trained in the application of this technique place the stones along the spine, in the palms of the hands and between the toes.
Stone massage can be used to treat numerous conditions, which include multiple sclerosis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, insomnia and depression. It has also been known to help with back pain, stress and anxiety.
Hot- and cold-stone massage can also aid in decongestion, increasing oxygen intake, having deeper muscle penetration, improving blood circulation, reducing swelling in the body, reducing stress and the cleansing of toxins in the body.
This technique, however, isn’t for everyone and caution should be taken for clients who are sick, have a heart or circulation condition, or sensitive skin, as they should not receive stone massage.
An Internet search revealed numerous home-study courses that are available for massage therapists to take to fulfill their continuing education requirements.
For stone massage, some of the courses offered cover such topics as the differentiation of stone shapes, stone sizes, giving holistic stone facials, mineralogy, recommended uses of stones, stone placement, ayurvedic principles and detoxification protocols.
Make sure to check with your national and state licensing bodies to make sure the courses you select are acceptable for continuing education credits.